Washington State Liquor and Cannabis Board
(WSLCB)

Details about WSLCB involvement in a federally coordinated police raid raised new questions about the agency’s engagement in the drug war, and revealed threats against one board member.

The hemp processor bill was signed into law, likely followed by the social equity bill - but the future of drug policy in Washington state was on a strange trip aboard SB 5476.

The new WSLCB Chair provided more expansive remarks during a public introduction to Cannabis Advisory Council representatives whose comments varied from friendly to confrontational.

In addition to a rulemaking review, the meeting featured several public comments from cannabis farmers concerned about the impact cannabinoids derived from hemp CBD were having in the state’s cannabis market.

The attorney general’s office described the “strict scrutiny” standard federal courts applied to laws utilizing race-based criteria and how that related to the work group’s development of social equity program applicant criteria.

The hemp processor bill was headed to the Governor’s desk, likely followed by some version of the social equity bill, while rulemaking and interim work at WSLCB was ramping up.

Senators adopted committee language for legislation expanding the scope of the State social equity in cannabis efforts - but many Republican members ultimately opposed passing the bill.

There was no opposition from committee members to recommending a bill which would establish a voluntary hemp processor registration, a hemp extract certification, and limited authority for WSLCB to test hemp.

Legislators would take the week to debate, amend, and vote on legislation from the opposite chamber - but the list of active cannabis-related bills had grown shorter.

Legislation to exempt registered medical cannabis patients from the State excise tax on compliant products received a near unanimous policy committee recommendation, but was not taken up by its fiscal committee.